Suspect In Southington Home Invasion Captured In Cheshire: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A 24-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged after a local resident interupted a home burglary on Pratt Street Thursday, leading to a bizarre set of incidents that also resulted in the arrest of a juvenile as well as two suspects being on the lam.

According to the Southington Police Department Friday, Juan Escalera, 24, of Frankling Street, Springfield, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary; first-degree criminal mischief; conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief; and second-degree criminal trespassing.

Police said he was held on $150,000 bond and appeared in New Britain Superior Court Thursday.

Escalera's capture by police came with the assistance of the nearby Cheshire Police Department, the SPD said.

According to the SPD, on Thursday, its officers responded to a Pratt Street home after a call reporting a homeowner interrupted a residential burglary.

Police said the homeowner called 911 after seeing flashing lights in the basement.

Arriving police checked the area and found a vehicle with Massachusetts plates parked on an adjacent street, the SPD said.

That's when the vehicle sped off after police tried to make contact with the vehicle's occupants, according to police.

Meanwhile, Cheshire police responded to assist and located a second male, identified later as Escalera, walking near the Southington-Cheshire town line in Cheshire.

Eventually, a police canine dog led to the suspected being detained by Cheshire officers, police said.

Escalera, police said, claimed initially he was "kidnapped in Springfield, held at gunpoint and then forced to come to Southington."

Police, however, continued their probe and learned the vehicle that sped off was a 2005 Gray Honda CRV and it was linked to a Springfield, Mass., address.

With help from Springfield's police deprtment, that vehicle was, eventually, located in that city, with the vehicle's owner reporting her 16-year-old son was driving it.

Upon further inverviews, Escalera admitted he made up the kidnapping story, police said.

Officers concluded Escalera and the 16-year-old knew the Pratt Street homeowner from a "previous interaction involving the sale of a vehicle at the address."

Police said this led to the Pratt Street home being targeted for a burglary, with the suspects hoping to steal property there.

Police said Escalera told them he pried open the rear door leading to the basement, while two unidentified suspects entered the home, with the vehicle operator staying back in the car.

The SPD said the juvenile vehicle operator went to the Southington Police Department and, after being quetioned, was issued a juvenile summons for conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and engaging in police pursuit.

He is slated to appear in New Britain Juvenile Court.

Police said they're still looking for the two suspects who entered the home, only saying they're known as "Jay" and "chubby dude."

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Southington Police Department at 860-621-0101.